Swimming pool steps



Feb. 22, 1966 M. L. LAVEN swmmne POOL STEPS Filed Nov. 6, 1964 INVENTORMERRILL L. LAVEN BY f ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,236,012 SWIMMINGPOOL STEPS Merrill L. Laven, 180 Ormond, Albany, N.Y. Filed Nov. 6,1964, Ser. No. 414,488 1 Claim. (Cl. 52-184) The present inventionrelates in general to swimming pools and more specifically to swimmingpools containing an attachment in the form of steps and to a method ofinstalling the same, and forms a continuatioin-in-part of my earlierapplication, Serial No. 187,687 filed April 16, 1962, now abandoned.

Within the past decade there has been a tremendous growth in the numberof private outdoor swimming pools due primarily to the introduction ofrelatively low cost prefabricated pools utilizing segmented side wallsof wood, metal or concrete, and the combination therewith of apro-formed vinyl bag or liner.

Pools of the pre-formed type, in contrast to the more expensive sprayedconcrete or all concrete pools, have in the past been limited generallyto the use of ladders as means of entering or leaving the pool. This isdue to the cost of altering and fitting a pre-formed liner toaccommodate steps or the like. With the increasing use of such pools,the difficulty of access via ladder has limited the use by elderlypeople and small children of these pools.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a poolwith a step attachment therefor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means and method forintroducing steps into any type of pool utilizing a rigid, non-masonrywall in its construction.

Additional objects, if not specifically set forth herein, will bereadily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription of my invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one end of a swimming pool having avinyl liner therein showing the steps of the present inventioninstalled.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section plan view of the steps in FIGURE 1 taken online AA thereof and showing the gasketing arrangement between the stepattachment and the pool walls.

Generally, my invention comprises the provision of a preformed stepmember adapted to be bolted to the end or side Wall of an existing pool,external to the original pool area, in such a manner as to form awatertight seal with said pool wall. The section of original pool wallbetween the contacting areas of the attachment is then cut away and theresult is an integral set of steps descending down into the water areaof the pool.

Referring now to the drawings, the pool is shown with side walls 11 andend wall 12, each consisting of a rigid supporting member 13 and a vinylinterliner 14 (either of the pre-formed bag type or, as shown, laminatedto member 13). The end wall 12 has fastened to it, externally of thewall, a step attachment 15. The fastening is accomplished through theprovision on member 15 of fastening flanges, two of which are vertical(10) and one of which is horizontal (17) and is fastened to the base ofvertical flanges 16. These flanges may be separate as shown or formed asa single U-shaped member and welded or otherwise fastened to the mainbody of the assembly 15. The flanges are shown in dotted lines sincethey are disposed externally of the wall 12. The steps 18 are of anysize and number, depending upon the height of the pool wall, the widthof the step tread and other factors which may vary with the taste of thein- 3,236,012 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 dividual pool owner. Integrallyfastened to said steps 18 are side walls 19 which extend from the topsurface only of steps 18 to the side flanges 16. The entire stepattachment 15 may be moulded in one piece from fibre glass reinforcedplastic or the like, or may be made from integrated components of wood,metal or the like. As shown in FIGURE 2, the flange members 16 and 17are fitted with a gasket member 20 which is perforated in align- ,mentwith perforations in the flanges to permit passage of the fasteningbolts 21. When the assemblage is to be installed in an existing pool,the ground behind the wall which will have the steps is excavated tosuitable depth and the assemblage 15 is lowered therein and lined upagainst the wall. Holes are then drilled through the pool wall inalignment with the holes in flanges 16 and 17, using the flanges astemplates to assure proper alignment. Preferably the water level in thepool is dropped below the level of the step member during the drillingoperation, although temporary plugs may be used if it is desired tomaintain the water level in the pool. Once the holes are drilled, thegasket 20 is inserted between the flange and the pool wall 13. Bolts 21are inserted in the holes and the flanges are tightly drawn against wall13, compressing gasket 20 by means of suitable fasteners such as nuts 22on the ends of bolts 21. The joint between the flanges and the pool wallmay be caulked if desired, although the provision of gasket 20 has beenfound to insure a watertight connection. After the attachment of thestep assembly 15 to the pool wall, that area of the pool wall bounded bythe inside edges of flanges 16 and 17 is cut away. This opens up thestep area to the remainder of the pool and when the ground has beenback-filled around step assembly 15 and a coping 23 positioned thereonas shown in FIGURE 1, the steps appear to have been integrally made withthe pool 10. A cover plate (not shown) may be used when a preformedvinyl liner pool is modified by the addition of the steps of the presentinvention to cover the inside cut edge of the vinyl liner or,alternatively, such edge may be adhesively secured to the pool wallalong the cut portion thereof. Suitable railings, non-skid treads andthe like may be incorporated as desired.

Obviously, many modifications and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention disclosed herein and,therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are contained inthe appended claim.

I claim:

In a swimming pool construction, the combination comprising: a rigidwall member having an inner and an outer surface; a vinyl interlinersupported by said rigid wall member on the inner surface thereof; a stepattachment fastened to the outer surface of said rigid wall member, saidstep attachment consisting of a plurality of step members, each stepmember being joined integrally to the next step member with a side wallat each end of said step members extending continuously from the topsurface only of each step member and integrally fastened thereto, andmeans integral with said side walls and the lowermost of said stepmembers in watertight relationship with said outer surface of said rigidwall member and means fastening said first means to said outer surfaceof said wall member; an opening cut through said vinyl interliner andrigid wall member to remove the portion thereof bounded by said sidewalls and lowermost step of said attachment; and means securing saidvinyl interliner against said inner surface around said opening.

(References on following page) 3 4 References Cited by the Examiner2,974,746 3/ 1961 Baker 52-184 Lucchesi 5/1902 Maginnis 6115 FOREIGNPATENTS 3/1906 Knaus 52-191 5 832,632 7/1938 France. 3/1912 Wiley 61-15531,040 12/1940 Great Britain. 12/1927 Fagan. 11/1954 Peterson FRANK L.ABBOTT, Prlmary Exammer.

5/1960 Harris 52-20 J. L. RIDGILL, Assistant Examiner.

